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Meds and weight gain/bloating/retention

Posted , 4 users are following.

Missleah
Missleah

Hi All

 

After being diagnosed in April with Sero-negative RA I am still on the journey to try to control this illness.

 

4 weeks ago 5 things happened…!

 

·         My RA upped my MXT from 12.5mg weekly to 20mg

·         He prescribed 10mg Prednisone (daily) – I could feel this take away the inflammation but after less than a week I took myself of it - I felt bloated and SO ANGRY (dangerously so)

·         He administered a Cortisone injection in my shoulder where my movement was really limited and giving me a lot of pain

·         He prescribed muscle relaxant Myogstic 1x daily at night

·         He also prescribed Aroxiam (Meloxicam) 15mg 1x daily in the morning

 

I am now almost pain free,  however I feel like a big balloon.  I haven’t physically put on any weight (on the scale) I have actually lost 6lbs in the last 2 months something I was very happy about…but now I look fat and feel fat none of my clothes fit my face is round & puffy my tummy is big and swollen.

 

Has anyone experienced any of this after taking any off the above?  I know that everyone’s case is different but I am trying to pinpoint which of the above could be contributing.  Could it be the additional mg of MXT?  Or after effects of the steroid.  Or retention from the pain killers.  I know its vain but I’m miserable enough at the moment without looking hideous too.

 

Any feedback would be much appreciated x

 

 

 

0 likes, 8 replies

8 Replies

  • EileenH
    EileenH Missleah

    Posted

    Since you aren't taking pred any more it shouldn't be due to that by now - they are typical effects of steroids but not usually so dramatic at such a low dose for such a short time. However - what sort of shot was it? Was it a depot one? Their effect lasts for a few weeks as the steroid leaches out slowly over time. If you are very steroid-sensitive it could be that.

    Try cutting carbs drastically for a week or so and see if that helps - it certainly does help to cut carbs a lot when you are on longer term pred. Salt in your food also leads to fluid retention when on pred.

    • Missleah
      Missleah EileenH

      Posted

      Thanks Eileen will try to find out which type of injection ! I live in Bahrain & I'm onto my third RT the language barrier is a problem in it's self ! I am a bit of a carb addict so will give that a go thank you for the advise ? 

    • Missleah
      Missleah

      Posted

      I checked my notes and yes was Depro-medrol so looks like it could be this if he had explained i wouldnt have had it.  An injectioned I had been administered back in May made me feel wonderful.  Trial & error I guess sad  The joys!!!!  Hope your well x

  • blair97497
    blair97497 Missleah

    Posted

    Hi Leah

    I have heard that one needs to treat your removal of prednisone very carefully, to gradually taper off in dose, not just jump from a full dose to nothing. Please be cautious. It can have serious effects on the hormone regulation that keeps your whole metabolism regulated. 

    I had 20mg prednisone for 1 month tapering off (while waiting for an initial rheumatologist appt, though diagnosis was already strongly indicated by very high RF and anti-CCP) and then another 2 months,again tapering off while I phased onto DMARDs.

    Yes, it effects the mood, and I understand again that the effect varies individually. Mine made me inappropriate and a bit hyper, and generally lowered my social inhibitions. But as a stop-gap treatment for pain and inflammation it was great, considering my horrible physical and desperate mental state, possibly even a life-saver. 

    The swelling sounds typical for prednisone - but I've understood it would really take a longer term to do this. I am not sure I experienced any swelling, though maybe you just react extremely badly to it. 

    I hope you are feeling better, and have got some more medical support.

    • Missleah
      Missleah blair97497

      Posted

      Hi Blair

      Thanks for this.  For me every bit of info I can gain helps.  I am relatively new to this journey. 

      Re the Prednisone my RT prescribed me 10mg which made me feel so dreadful on day 1 I lowered to just 5mg.  Still feeling horrible a couple of days later I stopped completely.  That week I visited my RT and he was surprised that I had struggled with it apparently I am in the ‘minority’ he wasn’t concerned that I had stopped taking it.  He said it seems steroids don’t agree with me so no more for me!!!  But then he added if I found myself feeling inflamed to break one into quarters and take that to help bring the inflammation down… 

      I didn’t know about the effects on hormones & now having checked my notes see that the injection in my shoulder was depro-medrol…so after some more research I figure maybe it is this that has triggered the sodium/water retention which 4 weeks later I am still suffering from.

      Personally I think on top of the physical challenges I face daily it is difficult to gain honest and clear guidance about the meds I am being prescribed so I can make an informed decision.  Obviously they affect everyone in different ways.  Such a frustrating disease.  I can imagine that the prednisone significantly affected your mood, I literally think I could have killed someone & was really unreasonable shouting and throwing things which is completely out of character for me, horrendous!  I knew I couldn’t continue with them I am a really calm person and would prefer to be in pain.

      RE medical support I am onto my third hospital practice since April, second RT.  I hope that this new RT can become what I need to get me through his while we are in Bahrain.  The language barrier isn’t ideal.  This week I am struggling with the practice to get the results back for my last set of bloods (for my records) as I said frustrating! 

      Thanks Blair for your input its much appreciated.

      Leah

    • blair97497
      blair97497 Missleah

      Posted

      Hi Leah

      Yes, I'm a newbie to RA too, just about a year in now.

      I've never had a steroid injection, so not looked into it much before this. But I found the potential side effecs of fluid retention and face reaction pretty quickly. 

      Re the mental effect - I since recalled getting angry and really rude at my medical centre when I was on prednisone; I was determined I would not be seeing my GP again as I no longer had confidence in him and I had asked to see a different doctor, which the receptionist was resisting. Really really not like me at all. 

      The foreign situation sounds very difficult. 

      I was a bit slow on the uptake on keeping pain under control. When I have any issues now I take panadol regularly and naproxen. I really don't wait to see if things will get worse, I prefer to get ahead of it early. I have taken codeine at times but now very rarely as I am wary of dependency.

      Take care, I hope things settle down. It is slow and difficult.

    • Missleah
      Missleah blair97497

      Posted

      Thanks Blair and you. Im sure I will see you on here again - thank goodness for sites like these...helps the sanity lol smile
  • twinnie0102
    twinnie0102 Missleah

    Posted

    Hi Missleah

    I was on 10mg.up until recently and you do get what is referred to as the hamster face when prednisone is involved

    Not sure on the puffy tummy though x

    Took a few months for my face to go down to a reasonable size

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